Washing-machine



(Modem 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

' J. B. WATKINS.

Washing Machine.-

Patented Feb. 8.1881.

'A'Twom :Ys.

NIPETERS. PNOTO LlTkDGflAPNER, 'WAS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. WATKINS, OF SMITHFIELD, KENTUCKY.

WASHING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 237,458, dated February8, 1881.

Application filed September 1, 1880.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN E. WATKINS, acitizen of the United States, residing at Smithfield, in the county ofHenry and State of Kentucky,have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Washing-Machines and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and toletters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in washing-machines and itconsists in the combination and arrangement of the parts, as hereinafter more fully specified, and particularly pointed out in theclaims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my device. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation thereof, partly in section; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view.

A represents a rectangalar clothes-receptacle, having the corrugatedbottom h, which may be covered with zinc, to prevent the wear of theridges or corrugations. To the sides of this receptacle are rigidlysecured the vertical standards F F, which standards furnish the bearingsof the transverse bar H, that is pivoted, as shown therein, at a, andslotted vertically for the reception of upright G, which, when actuated,ascends 'and descends therein in a vertical line, its ascent and descentbeing regulated by the bulk of the clothes and the hand of the operator,in connection with the pivoted lever B. The standards F F areadditionally secured by the vertically i slotted cross-beam P, whichfurnishes bearings for the pivoted lever B.

The upright G is secured in the pivoted horizontal bar H by means of thepin 0, and

it has attached thereto the central corrugated slat f and, indirectly,the slats f f and clamps 0 c. The handle E, which projects through it,is pivoted in the slot a.

The bars (I d are rigidly secured to the handle E, one at the endthereof, in a line perpendicular to the spring b, and the other to therear, of the upright G and in a line perpendicular tothe spring I).These springs are connected, respectively, to the clamps c c and theupright G, by staples projecting through their curved ends, and areactuated by means of the depending bars 01 d, in connection with (ModeL)handle E, the clamps c 0 being respectively thrown up by pressure uponsprings b and b, and when the pressure is released from the springs theyreturn to their normal position. These clamps are hinged, at e, to thelongitudinal springs G O, which hinges serve as adjuncts in elevatingand lowering the clamps, which are thus caused to catch and release theclothes while the machine is being operated, and thus to place theclothes in such position in relation to the rubbing device as may bemost conducive to the intended purpose.

The slats f f and f are screwed to the longitudinal springs U G, andthespriugs are curved at their ends for reception of the hooks 6, thusforming hinges for the clamps. These springs serve to render the rubbingforce applied to the clothes elastic, and the weight or pressure on theclothes may also be in part adjusted by means of weights secured to theupright G or pivoted lever It, to suit the na ture of the article to becleansed.

The rubber, in practice, in its movements to and fro, rests indirectlyupon the concave bottom of the rectangular clothes-receptacle A, and theare which it describes partially conforms to the concave surface of saidbottom, and hence it constantly gravitates and presses upon the clotheswith equal pressure when such pressure is not adjusted by means of thepivoted lever It. As constructed it prevents the clothes from becomingwedged under the rubbing device, and thereby torn by the additionalstrain to which thus subjected.

The ingenious manner in which my device is constructed renders itpossible to wash and thoroughly cleanse therewith the most delicate, aswell as the heaviest and coarsest, arti- 0 es.

What I claim is- 1. The combination, with the rubber, of the clamps c c,springs b and b, depending-bars d d, and handle E, substantially asshown and specified.

2. The combination of the clamps c 0, slats -f and f, springs O O and band b, and handle E, having depending bars (Z d and upright G,substantially as shown, and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses: JOHN E. WATKINS.

W. B. WILsoN, I. W. GAsELDINE.

